WWAY news director pleads guilty to failure to obey

Published: Tuesday, July 2, 2013 at 2:10 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, July 2, 2013 at 2:10 p.m.

WWAY News Director Scott Pickey pleaded guilty Tuesday to failure to obey a police officer in connection with a January incident in which Pickey drove onto a parade route in spite of being told by police to stay put.

A charge of reckless driving to endanger was dismissed in exchange for Pickey's plea and his recent completion of a defensive driving class.

"I appreciate Ben David and his office working with me to solve this issue," Pickey said of the New Hanover County district attorney.

On Jan. 21, Pickey tried to leave the television station parking lot at 615 N. Front St. which happened to be along the parade route of the Martin Luther King parade.

When Pickey was stopped by an officer who told him he couldn't leave, he ignored the officer and drove out of the parking lot onto the parade route, according to the Wilmington Police Department.

He was arrested a short distance away and released from jail on an unsecured $1,000 bond.

WWAY NewsChannel 3 reporters said they were made to wait two hours until the parade was over before they could leave the parking lot to cover news events elsewhere.

"When Pickey got in the car and drove out of the parking lot during another break in the parade, police arrested him," WWAY reported.

In addition to pleading, Pickey also was ordered to pay $240 in fines and court costs. He paid the amount in full Tuesday afternoon.

<p>WWAY News Director Scott Pickey pleaded guilty Tuesday to failure to obey a police officer in connection with a January incident in which Pickey drove onto a parade route in spite of being told by police to stay put. </p><p>A charge of reckless driving to endanger was dismissed in exchange for Pickey's plea and his recent completion of a defensive driving class.</p><p>"I appreciate <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic80"><b>Ben David</b></a> and his office working with me to solve this issue," Pickey said of the New Hanover County district attorney. </p><p>On Jan. 21, Pickey tried to leave the television station parking lot at 615 N. Front St. which happened to be along the parade route of the Martin Luther King parade. </p><p>When Pickey was stopped by an officer who told him he couldn't leave, he ignored the officer and drove out of the parking lot onto the parade route, according to the Wilmington Police Department.</p><p>He was arrested a short distance away and released from jail on an unsecured $1,000 bond.</p><p>WWAY NewsChannel 3 reporters said they were made to wait two hours until the parade was over before they could leave the parking lot to cover news events elsewhere.</p><p>"When Pickey got in the car and drove out of the parking lot during another break in the parade, police arrested him," WWAY reported.</p><p>In addition to pleading, Pickey also was ordered to pay $240 in fines and court costs. He paid the amount in full Tuesday afternoon.</p><p><i></p><p>F.T. Norton: 343-2070</p><p><a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @FTNorton</i></p>